4-Day Bumthang Valley Tour - Bhutan

Uncover the Legends of Bumthang

Summary

Including

Excluding

Map

Summary

Duration:

4 days / 3 nights (flexible)

Location:

Bumthang Valley

Prices from:

£748 - per person – Standard accommodation

Across a valley of countless legends lies the Bumthang Region, consisting of four sweeping valleys, each with its own unique history and stories. Devout pilgrims come and go, and the climate is unpredictable. The myth of the burning lake is likely to stay with you; at a particular point, where a mountain river forms a small lake, pilgrims pray, make offerings and light their yak-butter candles.

Arrival in Bumthang

Today you’ll drive into Bhutan’s central heartland. At around halfway you’ll stop in Trongsa and take in the spectacular vistas and the Dzong perched in the distance. In the afternoon you’ll reach Jakar in the heart of Bumthang, a town rich in stories and innumerable legends. You’ll stay in a cosy hotel outside the centre. In the living room there’s a warm stove and even a small library.

Days 2-3

Free time

Over the next few days, you can decide with your guide and driver what you’d like to do. If you didn’t get a chance yesterday you can visit Jakar Dzong and your guide will tell you all about the first legends of Bumthang, one of the holiest places in Bhutan. The next legend is waiting for you in one of the many monasteries. You’ll quickly notice that Buddhism is very much alive and thriving in this part of the country.

In direct contrast to this you can visit the local brewery. The Swiss maintain close contacts with Bhutan and the result is a wheat beer brewery and a Swiss cheese dairy. There are many colourful festivals, known locally as Tsechus, held in the Bumthang region so you might be able to attend one during your stay. You could also visit Membartsho, a sacred part of the mountain river with a unique legend behind it; we’ll let your guide explain the details! Back at the hotel in the evening you can relax by the fireplace in the cosy restaurant.

Day 4

Departure from Bumthang

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the Ura valley, where you’ll find one of the most interesting villages in Bhutan. The village features clusters of traditional-style Bhutanese homes and winding cobbled streets. The surrounding valley is a great spot for a hike and a picnic. The area is famous for the Ura Yakchoe; a characteristic local festival that usually takes place in May. Once you’ve finished exploring you’ll get back in your private car and be taken to your next location.